Brussels Griffon: Amazing Dogs You Can't Help Falling In Love With

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The Brussels Griffon (or Griffon), also called the Miniature Griffon, refers to small, "room" (decorative) dogs. Unfortunately, the breed is not yet particularly common, and there are very few nurseries breeding it. We hope this article will help increase the popularity of a dog you can't help but fall in love with.

Origin story

Perhaps we should start with ancient mythology. Some myths speak of Scythian gold guarded by… griffons. The images of the animal show through all the art of Rome and Ancient Greece. So the first mention of griffons, as you can see, can be found back in the heyday of a fairly ancient civilization. True, then they were described as animals with the bodies of lions and the heads of birds.

This origin story is also like a myth. But she is so beautiful that I don't want to give her up at all.

I must say that the very word "griffon" is translated as "hard wool". Apparently, this is wheregot the name of the breed. But back to history.

The first Brussels griffins were depicted by Van Eyck (a Flemish painter) in the painting "The Arnolfini Couple" in 1434. Approximately 70 years later, this dog can be seen next to Henry the Third in a painting painted by Jacobo Empoli.

The tiny Brussels griffin was at that time a symbol of the elegance of aristocrats (we althy ladies considered it a chic addition to their wardrobe). These dogs often traveled in carriages with their owners.

It is believed that the ancestors of griffins, who also turned out to be excellent and brave rat-catchers, were afferpinschers and ordinary Belgian yard dogs. These animals were inquisitive, lively, vigilant and unpretentious. True, then the Brussels Griffon breed was just beginning to form. The dogs were much larger than what we are used to seeing today.

By the 19th century, "bearded dogs" "won" the carriage house of the Belgian monarchs. The Brussels Griffon breed also won the heart of Maria Henrietta, Queen of Belgium. By the way, it was she who began to popularize the "bearded men", actively supporting the annual exhibitions.

The first Brussels Griffon is officially registered in the tribe. book (LOSH) in 1883. But he appeared at exhibitions three years earlier, in Brussels. It was a small red-haired dog with an elongated coarse coat. The owner of the griffin turned out to be a police sergeant. Since the breed did not have a clear name at that time, it was recorded as the "police dog".

The history of the origin of the breed is actually based on manyassumptions. We will focus on the most plausible.

Of course, the afferpinscher became the basis of the breed. To shorten the muzzle, they decided to use the King Charles Spaniel. True, the "infusion" of these bloods took place already in the 19th century. Thanks to this, the appearance of the griffon has become nobler, but the ability to exterminate rodents has disappeared. Later, a pug was “added” to the griffon, which managed to take root in Holland. As a result, two types of wool were obtained. Participated in the formation and breeds of Yorkshire Terriers, Pekingese. This is how the modern breed of the Brussels Griffon appeared.

Standard

When did the Brussels Griffon finally form? The breed standard was adopted relatively recently - March 25, 2003 (No. 80, FCI). According to him, the Brussels Griffon should be small, well balanced, alert, almost square in shape, elegant in constitution and movement, and at the same time with good bone. The head, in comparison with the body, is large, expressive, “human” (many breeders replace the expression “muzzle” with “face”). The skull is rounded, wide. The forehead is pronounced. The coat is harsh, tousled, straight, longer on the cheekbones and around the eyes, but especially on the chin. The nose is wide, black (nostrils are open), when viewed from the side, it should “lie down” in line with the eyes. Black lips should be tight-fitting (upper covering lower, but without drooping). Teeth - a complete set (overshot, and the incisors should line up in a clear line, while the upper canines are parallel to the lower canines (each againstfriend)). The eyes are expressive, widely spaced, large and round (not protruding!), Brown, black at the edges. Proteins are ideally not visible. Light, small, oval eyes are considered a fault. The ears are relatively small and set high, hanging forward in an uncropped form, semi-erect. The back is straight. The loin is short, barely arched, muscular. The chest should be pronounced, when viewed from the side it seems outstanding. Ribs are spring-loaded (not flat, not barrel-shaped). The abdomen is tucked up (the groin line is pronounced). A high-set docked (optional) tail is carried upwards. A short, broken, curled tail is a serious fault. The limbs are widely spaced, parallel. The paws are round with tightly compressed toes (not spliced), not turned in or out. The nails are dark, preferably black. The movements are powerful, with a good push, parallel. The high rise of the front paws and the amble are faults. The coat is hard, not curly, requires trimming. The color is red (shades), blackness on the mustache and beard is allowed. Weight ranges from 3.5-6 kg. DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: White patches, color not noted in the FCI Standard, unpigmented nose, crooked lower jaw, visible tongue (if mouth is closed), protruding upper jaw, aggressiveness, excessive shyness. The absence of a testicle (or both) is also a reason for disqualification.

Character

The Brussels Griffon has inherited many qualities from its ancestors. As for the character, here he absorbed the best features: devotion,calmness, confidence. This dog will follow its owner wherever he goes. Griffons are true companions. They are not suitable for people who are not at home most of the day. Loneliness for the "bearded man" is simply deadly. The Griffon is very sensitive by nature. However, he is not shy, not aggressive, not hysterical. Although, it must be admitted, he becomes very capricious when he is spoiled too much.

Bearded men are quick-witted and amenable to training. And their lightness and "maneuverability" allow you to perform even the most intricate circus tricks (of course, with special training).

Socialization, attitude towards children

The Pekingese didn't convey his dislike for children to the griffon. On the contrary, the "bearded man" is suitable for the whole family, including the one where there are kids. Griffons are very fond of playing with children. By the way, in those families where there is no child, the “bearded man” is looking for another companion - a dog (of any breed), a cat, a guinea pig, etc. A special attachment to other animals is noticeable in the frequent absence of the owner.

The socialization of “bearded men” in childhood and adolescence also affects behavior in an already more adult (mature) age. Teaching the Griffon to communicate with other people and animals is essential. Of course, this dog can completely “lock in” on its owner, especially if he gives her a lot of time. However, a person approaching you risks being bitten. And it's not about aggression. A baby griffon may simply be frightened of someone else's hand reaching out to him. You have to understand: gifphones are dogs, entirelyrelying on the owner. They can get lost in unfamiliar situations, be scared of strangers, etc. That is why early socialization is so necessary. Being at home, the Brussels Griffon is self-confident for all "one hundred thousand". He can give a voice when ringing or knocking on the door and even bark at the guest. However, the "bearded man" is not one of those who will make noise for days or nights on end. Griffons try to avoid confrontation, preferring calm.

Haircut

Smooth-haired Griffons do not require any special care - it is enough to comb the coat daily (choose brushes with natural bristles), cut off the curl at the tip of the tail and remove the hair growing between the fingers. For neatness, some breeders prefer to trim the hair around the anus. This is where the Brussels Griffon haircut ends.

Striping

Will be required for a wirehaired dog. This procedure is sometimes called trimming, which is not entirely true. For stripping, you need: tweezers, a brush (bristles), a slicker brush (fine, small), a comb (preferably double-sided, with frequent teeth on one side and medium teeth on the other), thinning scissors. The Griffon should not look freshly trimmed, especially at shows. Some "bearded" due to the lack of undercoat may look bald even a month after stripping.

Start with combing (first with a brush, then with a wide-toothed comb). Lift some hair on the back and try to pull out a few hairs. Easy removal indicates readiness forstripping. The outer hair is plucked from the withers, between the shoulder blades, then along the back, on the sides of the tail. Wool is pulled out only in the course of growth, on itself. When removing long hairs on the sides, follow the uniformity (balance) of the contours.

Next - the turn of the hind limbs. Remove thick hairs below the hocks. Now look at the front paws. Pluck out the longest hairs on them. Don't overdo it - excessive removal can create an elongated paw effect, as opposed to the desired cat paw effect.

Now you can proceed to the shoulders and chest. The longest hairs are also removed here. The hairs are plucked from the outer surfaces of the shoulders, down to the elbows. The front should be straight.

Then the chest is stripped (front surface and to the bottom point).

The tummy and the genital area are trimmed with either a clipper (No. 10) or scissors.

Examine the dog on the table. If there are single hairs that break the harmonious look, remove them.

Now start on the head. Start plucking behind the eyes, grabbing small tufts of hair. Gradually move to the ears and crown. Don't forget to leave long hairs for shaping the eyebrows. Pluck behind the ears (back surface) down towards the chest. Do not stop. Continue to remove hairs, moving down the sides of the neck, towards the jaw. Your task is to form a distinct beard and at the same time “dissolve” it with the hair on the chest. It is necessary to pluck the hair behind the beard (it is better to comb it or collect it) tothroat in such a way as to highlight the head by obtaining a clear line of the neck. Remove long hairs from the ear canals. The hair on the edge of the ears should be trimmed neatly, which will give them a more perfect look.

The place between the eyes (forehead-muzzle transition) is a particularly sensitive area. Be careful. The hairs at the edges of the eyes are removed either with tweezers or safety scissors. The hair on the beard, bordering the ears, is cut from the corner in a clearly straight line. Trim the hair between the toes and under the foot.

Wash the hyphae with a mild, natural shampoo.

It is enough to strip domestic dogs completely twice a year, but with show dogs this procedure is carried out in stages: first the limbs with the sides, then the back, then the head.

Where to buy a griffon?

This is best done in a nursery, in a breeding farm, in a club. The Brussels Griffon (puppies cost 15-40 thousand rubles) rarely appears on the markets. And the danger of getting a sick mongrel instead of a thoroughbred he althy puppy in the so-called "poultry houses" is quite high. You can look through newspapers and specialized magazines with ads (including online publications). But it is better to go directly to the nearest kennel club. It is desirable that it belongs to the international cynological system (for example, FCI). In this club you will be given contacts of breeders involved in the Brussels Griffon breed. Kennels, as a rule, not only guarantee the high quality of dogs, but also "guide" their puppies throughout their lives, maintaining close contacts withtheir new owners.

At what age to get a Griffon?

This issue should be resolved with the breeder. On the one hand, it is better to take a dog already grown up and fully vaccinated. But in this case, the puppy will cost more. Yes, natures, especially impressionable ones, will worry: “Did they feed you well? Are they sure they don't offend you? etc. Therefore, if you consider it necessary (and most importantly - possible), conduct a course of vaccinations yourself. So you will know for sure that the puppy is dewormed on time, and the vaccinations are done on time, and he is eating the best.

Choosing a puppy

This is no less difficult than choosing a nursery. The Brussels Griffon (photo in the article), as already mentioned, is a rather rare breed, so do not rely on a large number of litters being prepared for sale. You may even have to sign up and queue up. Don't forget: a good breeder will not sell a puppy to the first person they meet, and therefore will look at you the same way you look at him.

When choosing a puppy, make sure that he is a well-formed personality. A properly raised baby will not be aggressive or overly shy. If you decide to take a puppy at the age of, say, one and a half months, then socialization will fall on your shoulders.

And what if you have to buy a grown dog? All puppies are adorable, but you can’t go on about feelings. In addition to excellent appearance, the griffon must have a cheerful disposition, be sociable, playful. Natural shyness is always different from excessive passivity and unmotivated aggression. The little griffon should be well-fed (be careful - a swollen belly can indicate worming), with clear eyes (no discharge), a moist nose (but not a runny nose), no hernia, no dewclaws, no parasites.

The grown puppies are sold with puppy cards and veterinary passports, which contain marks about previous vaccinations. Arrange with the breeder about a joint visit to the veterinarian on the day of purchase (this is a kind of insurance for both parties). If you plan to show the Griffon at shows in the future, take an interest in the expert ratings of parents and relatives - the higher they are, the more chances your puppy has to become a winner.